Mop head assembly



1960 E. L. KUEHL 2,921,327

MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 29, 1958 IN VENTOR Emmi? L. Kuelzl ATTORNEY? i of more or less rigid construction.

United States Patent MOP HEAD ASSEMBLY Emmett I Kuehl, Overland, Mo. Application December 29,1958, Serial No. 783,278 6 Claims. (Cl. 13-147 The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in devices for'cleaning, dusting and. related uses, and particularly'to mop head assemblies.

It is common practice to employ a mop assembly in which the mop headjjis attached to a supporting frame The mop head is conventionally constructed of k absorbent material such as cellulose sponge, or natural or synthetic fabric or yarns, 'a..d may be either permanently or removably attached to the frame member. It is further known to provide a mop head and mop head frame of such arrangement that ther'n op head may, after a period of use, be removed from the frame and subjected to a washing and renovating treatment following whichthe same may be replaced on the frame for further use. ,7

In the latter case, as a result bf'the' washing action to which the mop head is subjected," the latter may be shrunk,.stretched or distorted to an extent that causes it to fail to properly fit the frame when reassembly is attempted. Repeated washings may so greatly alter the conformation of the mop head as to not only make proper reassembly diflicult, but to'ren'derpremature discard of an otherwise serviceable mop head unavoidable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mop head frame whichembodies advantages over known devices of this class." It is a further object of the invention to provide a mop head frame which by reason of its structure will prolong the period of useful life of the mop head. 'j

A further object of the invention is to provide means for facilitating assembly of the mop head upon the mop head frame after-the mophead has undergone distortion from its original dimensions from repeating washings and reuse. v A further object of the invention is to provide a mop head frame that can be manufactured from readily available materials, and at a cost sufiiciently low to enable the public'to fully benefit from invention. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that will be of .especial advantage to service personnel to whom it is entrusted to maintain the condition of equipment at maximum efficiency.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will becorne apparent to those skille'din the art in the course of the following disclosure.

General description The cleaning device according to my invention comprises a novel head frame which may be equipped with a conventional handle and is adapted to support a mop head. The head frame is of a size and shape suitable to serve as a support for the mop head which may be of heavy cloth provided with tufts or fringes of yarn. The frame is adapted to be inserted in pocket-like openings in or near the peripheryof the mop head and to be the advantages of the further secured by means of flaps fastened. by lacings passing over the frame whereby the edges of the flaps may be drawn together.

In the embodiment illustrated the frame is of generally rectangular outline andis composed of two U- shaped telescoping members. This construction adapts the frame to be expanded or contracted conformably to the particular size of the mop head which is to be secured thereto. The mop head frame thus may be telescopically adjusted to fit mop heads of various sizes.

The frame may be constructed of selected materials and I have found metal tubing to be suitable, as will hereinafter more fully appear. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that wood, plastic or other materials also may be effectively used for the structure of all or part of the frame.

Specific description Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure'Z.

Figure 4 is a view in section corresponding to that taken along line 3--3, but showing an alternative mode of attachment.

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 20 refers generally to a mop head frame according to my invention, having'a mop head 21 in place thereon and being provided with a mop handle 22 shown partially broken away at 23.

"The mop head 21 is formed from heavy fabric and is provided at the ends of the fabric portion with pockets 24 and 25 and alongthe length thereof with stitched inner edges 28 and 29 which when in operative position are drawn together by lacings 30. The peripheral and under surface of the mop head is provided with dependent fringe lengthsof yarn 31 composing the operative portion of the'mop head. The handle 22 is adjustably attached to the frame by means of a member 32 and bolt 33 which member is aflixed to the frame in conventional manner.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the frame 20 will be seen to consist of two U-shaped members 34 and 35. Member 34 is formed of tubular material having an inner diameter of such size as to telescopically receive member 35, of smaller diameter, without undue friction. As shown by broken outlines of Figure 2, the telescopic relationship of members 34 and 35 permits expansion and retraction of the frame to predetermined size.

An extension bar 36 is provided with a series of holes 37 located in the end portion of the bar, adapted to receive bolts 38 each securable by means of a nut, such as nut 30 (Figure 3) to a linking bar 40 and to a linking bar 41. Linking bar 41 is fixed to U- shaped member 35 by clamps 42 and 43 which respectively firmly encircle the lower arm 44 and upper arm 45 (Figure 2) of U-shaped member 35. The terminal ends of clamps 42 and 43 are perforated to receive bolts 46 and 47 which serve toattach clamps 42 and 43 to linking bar 40. As will be understood, linking bar 40 also may be attached to arms 44 and 45 by riveting, welding or other suitable means. Linking bar 41 is attached toarrns 48 and 49 of U-shaped member 34 by means substantially duplicating that which has been described in detail with respect to linking bar 40.

Figure 4 shows an alternative means of attachment wherein the linking bar is secured to the frame by welding. In accordance with this constructiona linking bar 50 which may be welded directly. to arm 45, or which as shown, is welded to member 51 WhiClIiIl turn is welded to arm 45, need not be provided with. bolt means and 47, inasmuch as the need foriclamping action is dispensed with. This construction is particularly strong and is desirable where the linking bar members are liable to be subjected to lateral stresses.

In the illustrated embodiment according to my'invention the operation of the device is as;fo1lows': when it is desired to attach a fresh mop headfto frame 20, one or both bolts 38 are loosened and,removedfrom the bar 36 and the respective U-shaped'members are moved laterally (as shown in Figure 2) as may be necessary either to lengthen or. shorten the frame in orderto accommodate the size of the mop head. It will be understood that this telescoping action is .further useful in the assembly of the mop head and frame invany case inasmuch as the shortened frame can be placed in contact with the mop head and thereupon expanded to insert the U-shaped members 34 and 35 in'the pockets 25 and24. When the frame firmly engages the pockets-at. each end, the bar 36 is assembled on linking; bars.40 and 41 by means of bolts 38 which are inserted through the holes in the extension bar 36 that then most nearly coincide with the corresponding holes' in the linkingbars 40:and 41, and are tightened in place. The snugly fitting mop head may then be further securedbymeans of laces 30 drawing flaps 26 and 27 over and covering the frame.

It will be understood that whereas in the embodiment shown and described the assembled. U-shaped members form a substantially rectangularly shaped outline, the construction according to my invention: may be varied to adapt to different conformations of mop heads. It will also be understood that the arm of smaller crosssectional dimensions need not be tubular but maybe of solid rod material. By the term U-shaped I refer to that form in which each member is characterized by two substantially co-extensive arms in generally parallelrelationship, at one end being free and at.the other being joined by an interconnecting portion which may be arcuate or angular, or fixedly attached inany continuous manner. The shape of the cross-sectional area of the material from which each member is formed may be circular, square or otherwise as desired.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statute there has been illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of this invention now known, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention asset forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of this invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. An extensible mop head frame comprising two U- shaped members, at least one of said members being formed of tubular material, the exterior cross-sectional dimensions of the other of said two U-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional dimensions of said member which is formed. of tubular material, the ends of the arms ofsaid U-shaped member having the smaller cross-sectional dimensions being telescopically receivable within the ends of the arms of said U-shaped member having the larger cross-sectional dimensions, and means for adjusting said telescopically joined members to a predetermined extension, said adjusting means comprising an extension bar, means for attaching said U-shaped members to said extensionhar, at least one said attaching means being attachable at various. distances along the length ofsaid extension bar.

2. An extensible mop head frame comprising two U- shaped members; at least one of' said members being formed of tubular materialgthe exterior cross-sectional dimensions of the other of said two U-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional dimensions of said member which is formed of tubular material, the ends of the arms of said U-shaped member having the smaller cross s e otional dimensions being telescopically receivable within the. ends of. the arms of said U-shaped member having the larger cross-sectional dimensions, an'. extension bar. providedwith; a. plurality of holes at eachendthereofladapted .to receive bolt means for attachmentto each 'U-shapedmember.

3. An extensiblemop; head frameicomprising two U- shaped members, at least one of said members being formed of tubular material, the exterior crosssectional dimensions of the other of said two U-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional dimensions ofsaid member which is, formed of tubular material, the ends of th'e-arms of said ushaped member having the smaller crossrsectional dimensions being telescopically receivable within the ends of the arms of said U-shaped'. member having the, larger" cross-sectional dimensions, the arms ofjieach of said U-shaped members being bridged by a linking, bar intermediately positioned with respect to the ends of each of said U-sliaped members, the ends of said'linking bar beingfirmly aifixed to each of said arms of said respective members, an extension bar provided with a plurality of holes at each end thereof adapted to receive bolt means for attaching said linking bars to saidjextension bar.

4. An extensible mop head frame comprising two U shaped members, each of said members being formed of tubular material, theexterior cross-sectional dimensions of the tubular material of one ofsaidU-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional dimensions of 'the tubular material of the other of said U-shaped members, the endsof the arms of said U'- shaped member having the smaller cross-sectional dimensions being telescopically receivable within the ends of the arms of saidU-shaped member having'the larger cross-sectional dimensions, the arms or 'each' of'said U- shaped members beingbridged by a linking bar intermediately positioned with respect to the ends of each of said U-shaped members, the ends of said linking. bar being firmly aflixed to each of said arms of said respective members,,an extension bar provided with a plurality of holes at each end thereof adapted to receive bolt means for attachingsaid linking..bars to said extension bar. 1

5. A mop assembly comprising an extensible mop head frame and a mop head, said-frame comprising two U- shaped members, each of said members being formed of tubular materi..l, the exterior cross-sectional'dimensions of the tubular material of one of said U-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross sectional-dimensions ofthe tubular material ofthe other of said U-shaped members, .the ends.qf,th'e arms of said U-shaped member having the smallercross-sectional dimensions being. telescopically receivable within the ends of the arms of said-q-thapedmember.having the larger cross-sectional dimensions, the arms of each of said U- shaped members being bridged by aalinking bar intermediately positioned with respect to the ends of each of said U-shaped members; the endsof said linking bar being firmly affixed. toeach of said arms of said respective members, an extension bar provided with a plurality of holes at each end thereof' adapted to receive bolt means for attaching;said linking bars to said extensionbar, said mop head being. provided with pockets adapted to. receive. the; endsof the; telescopically joined U-shaped members, and being furtherprovided with flaps andwith lacingsforrfirmly'securing saidmop head on said..frame,

6. An extensible mop head frame comprising two U- shaped members, at least one of said members being formed of tubular material, the exterior cross-sectional dimensions of the other of said two U-shaped members being slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional dimensions of said member which is formed of tubular material, the ends of the arms of said U-shaped member having the smaller cross-sectional dimensions being telescopically receivable within the ends of the arms of said U-shaped member having the larger cross-sectional dimensions, the arms of each of "said U-shaped members being bridged by a linking bar intermediately positioned with respect to the ends of each of said U-shaped mem- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,624 Perry Dec. 28, 1915 2,309,076 Morando Jan. 19, 1943 2,325,598 Fatland Aug, 3, 1943 2,724,851 Steiner Nov. 29, 1955 2,859,464 Colangelo Nov. 11, 1958 

